Browse Items (13 total)

Eugene Taylor sent this letter home to his mother, apologizing for joining the marines during WWII. The letter is in cursive on lined notebook paper.

This postcard was sent by Eugene Taylor to his parents in Pekin, IL, after joining the Marines in WWII. The postcard was sent from Chicago and describes what he is doing there. This letter is the first item in the larger Taylor family scrapbook from…

This multi-page letter was the last letter Eugene Taylor sent before being deployed during WWII. The letter was written over several days between April 2nd, 1944 and April 9th, 1944. The letter is in cursive. The stationery is from Cherry Point,…

This is Eugene Taylor's photo journal from his time in the Pacific theater during WWII. The pictures are mainly of his friends and the people he knew.

This scrapbook contains letters and pictures from Eugene Taylor from before his deployment. Taylor served the marines in the Pacific theater in WWII. The letters are addressed to his mother, father, one woman who would not become his wife, and later,…

A Purple Heart medal awarded to the family of PFC Ardell Van Over posthumously in 1952. PFC Van Over fought in the Battle of the Bulge where according to oral history, stepped on a land mine. He passed from complications of the wounds several months…

This is a ration card for tobacco issued in the summer of 1945 to Eugene Taylor. Taylor served in the Marines during WWII. 12 of the 26 tabs have been used. The card was issued on May 1, 1945 and expired October 29, 1945. Rules for using the rations…

This is a Park Sherman Co. cigarette case. Park Sherman created many metal goods in Springfield, IL from the 1930s to 1960. This case may have been carried during WWII. This example was acquired at an antique shop.

This photo is a pre-fight photo of Roy Meyers (left) and Eugene Taylor (right). They boxed for the Marine Corps. Between the two boxers is Red Skelton, a famous performer of the era. Taylor would go on to win the fight. The announcement is the…

The button depicts Uncle Sam hanging Hitler from a tree with the phrase, "Let's Pull Together." The button was passed from father to daughter